Musical instrument



June 5, 1928. r v v v 1,672,699

. E. F. STROMBERG MUS ICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Oct. 18, 1.926 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor lam-1mg;

June 5, 1928.

" E. F. ST OMBER MUSICAL. INSTRUMENT Filed Oct. 18, 1926 2 She'ts-Sheet2 buwnior ,fzrvmbgy if. I r

A I'M Patented June 1 928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

nosIcAL INSTRUMENT.

Application filed October 18, 1926. Serial N0. 142,248.

This invention relates to ban'os andv instruments of like type, and hasorits principal objects the improvement of tone qualities both as tovolumeand brilliance, and

the improvement of structure as to certain mechanical features. f

. The matter of qualit and volume in instruments of this type ecomes ofhigh importance in the case of public performance, and especially sowhere the instruments are played in orchestras furnishing music fordances and like entertainments. The principles involved in my invention,as well as the mechanical features, are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, to which reference .is made by conventional characterssimilarly emplo ed throughout.

In these drawings: Fig. 1 is a view of the banjo head partly broken awayto expose underlying structure.

Fig. 2 is a section through such head on an indicated line 22 of Fig. 1,and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view through one side of the head. v

In the drawings I indicate at 1 the usual head frame provided with ametallic casing 2. This is a band usually surrounding the wooden frame1, but as shown in Fig. 3 I preferably form this band with a spun-inportion 3 which is turned in and about a tubular ring 4. v

Internally the ring 1 is rabbeted or shouldered as at 1 and on thisshoulder rests an annular plate 5 soldered to a ringfi which snu ly fitswithin the frame 1. Supported on t e ring 5 are a series of tubularmembers 7 apertured as at 7. On these members 7 is a tone ring 8 overwhich the head ordiaphragm proper H is stretched. The head is thereforedrawn over the rin 8 within its margin and at its margin is d rawn overthe bead 3 on the metal shell 2. It is tightened by a hoop 9 presseddown by a follower 10. The hoop 9 is drawn down by the usual books orbolt wires 11 and is passed through the brackets 12 and receives thethreaded nuts 13.

On opposite sides of the instrument I clamp beneath an opposed pair ofthe brackets 12 a plate 14. These receive the stems 15 threaded toreceive the nut 16 and so holds in place the wall 17 with its resonatorhead 18 which is thereby drawn against the rubber buttons B on thebottom of the head frame 1. The resonator 18 is therefore detachablyconnected to the instrument by sim ply removing the nuts 16.

hen in place, the opening between the side wall 17 of the resonator ispartially filled by the annular ring 19 which extends inwardly towardsthe outer wall of the banjo head, but does not touch it. This ring 19 isseated on an internal shoulder formed by rabbeting the upper edge of theresonator rim 17 and is provided with scallops 20 which clear the bolts11 providin sound openings for the resonator below. he ring 19 ispreferably made in four parts to provide clearance for the clamp plates14, the neck N and tail-piece T.

The structure, as shown, while illustrative and capable of modificationwithout departing from the spirit of the inventions involved, is a verysatisfactory structure, both from the viewpoint of manufacture and thatof performance. The tubes 7 supported on the plate 5 not only give arigid support to the ring 8 but add individual and collective resonanceto the instrument. This resonance is increased and multiplied in theresonator 18, which collects and'controls the sound vi brations fromwithin the head and generally directs them outwardly about the head,while in itself the wooden disc 18 c0nstitutes a sounding board oramplifier. The bridge B and stringing S are merely indicated as ofconventional type.

As heretofore suggested, a variety of modifications may be made in thevarious details shown, although individually and in combination thevarious elements cooperate to produce a strength and uality required fora public performance. Vhere strength or volume is not required, theresonator 18 may he quickly removed by unscrewing the nuts 16 andslipping the resonator from the instrument. turbing the tuning or thehead tension and may be quickly and inconspicuously effected withoutmaterial interruption in perform That I therefore claim and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a ban o, a rim rabbeted internally to provide an annular seat, aplurality of 1 adjacent its upper end to provide an annular 119 This maybe done without dispassing seat, a plurality of tubular supportspositioned on said seat, and a headring disposed on the outer ends ofsaid tubular supports.

3. In a banjo, a head rim rabbeted internally to provide an annularshoulder, a ring fitted within said recess, a plate secured to said ringand resting on said shoulder, a plurality of relatively short upstandingapertured tubes supported on said plate and a tone ring mounted on theupper ends of said tubes.

4:. In a banjo, a rim rabbeted internally to provide an annular seat, anannular plate positioned on said lar supports positioned on said plate,and a head ring disposed on the outer ends of said tubular supports.

5. In banjo construction, a head, a head rim, stretcher brackets securedto said rim exteriorly thereof, head tightening members through saidbrackets, a pair of clamp plates secured to an oppositely disposed pairof said brackets, a resonator having a back and an enclosing rim ofgreater diameter than the head rim, a pair of resonator fasteningmembers detachably connecting saidplates to'said resonator rim, and anannular ring seated on said resonator rim and scallopedto clear members,thereby providing relatively unobstructed sound openings for theunderlying resonator. I

6. In banjo construction, a head, a head rim, stretcher brackets securedto said rim exteriorly thereof, head tightening members passing throughsaid brackets, a pair of clamp plates secured to an oppositely disposedpair of said brackets, a resonator having a back and an enclosing rim ofgreater I diameter than the head rim, the upper edge of said resonatorrim vide an internal annular seat,'a pair of resonator fastening membersdetachably connecting said plates to' said resonator rim, and an annularring positioned on said seat and sealloped to clear said head tighteningmembers, thereby providing relatively unobstructed sound openings forthe underlying resonator.

7 In a banjo, a head rim rabbeted internally to provide an amiularshoulder, a horiseat, a plurality of tubusaid head tightening beingrabbeted to pro- I zontally disposed plate resting on said shoul- 'der,aplurality of relatively shortupstanding apertured tubes supported onsaid plate, a tone ring mounted on the upper ends of said tubes, a headstretched over said tone ring, a plurality to said rim exteriorlythereof below the lower ends of said tubes, a tightening hoop for saidhead, tightening members engaging said hoop and secured to saidbrackets, a pair of clamp plates secured to the under faces of anoppositely disposed pair of said stretcher brackets, a resonator havinga back and an enclosing rim of greater diameter than the head rim,fasteningmembers detachably connecting the resonator rim to said plates,and an annular ring positioned on said resonator rim and scalloped toclear said head tightening members, thereby providing relativelyunobstructed sound openings for the underlying resonator.

8. In a banjo, a head rim rabbeted internally adjacent its upper end toprovide an annular shoulder, a ring fitted within said recess, a platesecured to said ring and resting on said shoulder, a plurality ofrelatively short upstanding apertured tubes supported on said plate, atone ring mounted on the upper ends of'said tubes, a head stretched oversaid tone ring, a plurality of stretcher brackets secured to said rimeXteriorly thereof below the lower ends of said tubes, a tightening hoopfor said head, tightening members engagingsaid hoop and secured to saidbrackets, a pair of clamp plates secured to the under faces of anoppositely disposed pair of said stretcher brackets, a resonator havinga back and an enclosing rim of greater diameter than the head rim, theupper edge of said resonator rim being rabbeted to provide an internalannular seat, fastening members detachably connecting the resonator rimto said plates, and an annular ring positioned on said seat of theresonator rim and scalloped to clear said head tightening members,thereby providing relatively unobstructed sound openings for theunderlying resonator.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ELMER FRITJ OFF STROMBERG.

of stretcher brackets secured I

